Audible signabing device for use with tanks



p 30,1941. F. scu Em 2,257,656

AUDIBLE SIGNALING DEVICE FOR USE WITH TANKS Filed Nov. 25, 1959 INVENTORS Tran P Scullq BY flEdnrard Maihjz Patented Sept. 30, 1941 woman SIGNALING DEVICE FOR use warn TANKS Frank P. Scully, Cambridge, and Alcide Edward Mathey, Auburndaie, Mass, assignors to Scully Signal 00., East (lamb tion of Massachusetts ridge, Mass, a corpora- Application November 25, 1939, Serial No. 306,143 Claims. (01. 116-109) This invention relates to signaling means for indicating the level of liquid in a tank during fillingthereof.

While signaling means of various types have been used in connection with the filling of tanks,

in the main such signaling means have been used with relatively large tanks, as, for example, au-

tomobile gasoline tanks, fuel oil tanks, tank cars and other containers of the same general description.

In the filling of smalljtanks, however, as, for

example, one, two and five gallon cans, one and two gallon tanks of the type used with various sorts of oil stoves, signaling means have been noticeably absent. Gauges have been supplied on small tanks, but these hav ebeen relatively expensive and very apt to get outcf order.

One of the objects of our invention is, therefore, to provide an audiblesignaling mechanism for use with small tanks, principally, although,

, of course, it will be understood that this construction may be used with any size tank, which will be cheap and positive in operation to give indication to the person filling the tank when the liquid level has reached a predetermined point.

Another object of our invention is to provide signaling means which maybe combined with the typical carburetion filler cap that is now. in commen use. 1

These and other objects of our invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a typical container with which the signaling means may, be used.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing in detail the construction of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail showing the nature of the fillingoperation.

Fig. 5is a plan view of one form of fill pipe construction.

F18. 6 is a sectional elevation on the line 6-6 Fig. 7 is a plan viewof anothermodification of fill pipe construction.

Fig. 8 is still anothed formof fill pipe.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 is shown a typical container 2 having a fill connection at the top closed by filler cap 4. Included with this filler cap is a carburetion mechanism which will bereferred to hereinafter. Container 2 is shown with a carrying handle 6, but this is a detail which constitutes no part of the invention.

In Fig. 2 the top of the container is denoted as 8, and extending therethrough is a fill pipe I0. This pipe extends downwardly into the container to the point at which it is desired to indicate i the liquid level to the operator. Fill pipe It may,

if desired, extend upwardly above the tank top 1 8, as shown in Fig. 2, but this is not essential for operativeness of the signaling mechanism.

Fill pipe Ill may take several forms, provided it meets the requirement that it is of adequate size to permit entrance of liquid'therethrough, and at the same time allow gases to vent freely past the entering liquid. This may be accomplished in a number of ways, one of which is to have the fill pipe considerably larger insection than the cross-sectional area of the entering liquid. Such construction is shown in Fig. 4, where itis apparent that the size of thefentering stream of liquid i2 is such that an adequate area at It remains through which gas may escape.

Another type of fill pipe construction is shown in Fig.5. Here the pipe isdivided into two parts by a wall l6 extending throughout the length of the pipe. This provides a passage 18 through which the liquid may enter and a passage 20 through which gas may escape.

Still another 'form of fill pipe is shown in Fig. 7. This construction is designed to prevent the in sertion into the fill pipe of a filler nozzle of such size that it could block the fill pipe to such an extent that gases could not escape freely therethrough.

To accomplish this result the pipe has a series of spacers 22 which extend inwardly and are spacedabout the inner circumference of the fill pipe in sufilcient number to maintain a filling nozzle in central location. By this construction the areas at 24 provide ample space through which gas may escape. j

Another fill pipe construction is shown in Fig. 8. By making the fill pipe ovalin section, or other than round, it is obvious that any filling nozzle positioned within could not entirely close the pipe. This, of course, is based on the assumption that the filler nozzle is customary situation at present, or of cross-section differing from that of the fill pipe.

Adjacent the fill pipe is an opening in top 8 in which is positioned a whistle 26. This whistle may be of any suitable construction, provided it becomes audible when gas in suitable volume is forced therethrough. The whistle should be adapted to operate on relatively low pressures, but at the same time should be inaudible when round, which is the carburetion device is as follows.

gas is passing through it at a rate less than a predetermined minimum.

A whistle of the button type, as shown, is suitable for use in this connection. Such a whistle has an upper opening 28 and a lower opening 30.

Fill pipe I and whistle 26 are preferably positioned close enough to each other so that they may be conveniently surrounded by an upstand ing circular rim 32 which is preferably threaded} as at 3 to receive the corresponding filler cap'l threaded at 38. The purpose of having the fill pipe and whistle relatively close to each other is to facilitate closing both of these entrances to the tank by a single filler cap so that the tank may be more readily sealed. I l

In the case where the container is a typical five gallon can or of some similarconstruction the filler cap would be of the ordinary imperforate type adapted to completely seal the container. In other instances, however, where'the container is used in connection with an oil stove, for exam-- ple, the filler cap may incorporate therewith .a carburetion mechanism which is shown in detail in Fig. 2. This device is formed by the provision of a hole 40 through the center of the cap, a washer or liner 42 of material suitable to provide an oil-tight seat, a valve 44 on the end of valve stem 46, which terminates in a disk 46, which is adapted to act as an abutment against which a spring 50 may rest. The other end of the spring 50 seats on the upper side of filler cap 4. Since the spring is under compression, it is apparent that valve 44 will be seated tightly against washer 42' to provide a liquid-tight seal.

Valve 44 opens when the container is inverted and placed in position in the fuel supply mechanism of the stove or burner, by virtue of the engagement by the end of valve stem 46 with a suitable part of th supporting structure; Valve 44 is located so as to be unobstructed by pipe l0.

throughout the range of necessary opening movement. 7 7

The operation of the signaling mechanism and Filler cap 4 is removed, exposing fill pipe l0 and whistle 26 located within rim 32. Liquid is fed into the tank through fill pipe l0 either as a directed it is to be distinctly understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited thereby, but only by the appended claims.

Weclaim:

1. In combination, a container for liquid, 9. tube acting as a combined fill pipe and vent projecting downwardly into'said container to a posi-' tion where'it may be sealed by rising liquid, a

0 separate passage through said container having an audible signaling device in series therewith, the cross-sectional area of said tube being great enough to permit venting of gas therethrough from said container during filling and while the liquid level is below the end of the tube to prevent development of sufi'icient pressure in said 6011-, tainer to operate said signaling device, said tube being long enough to permit sufficient rise'of liquid therein after the lower end has been sealed to create adequate pressure in said tank to operate said signaling device.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, in

which there is common means removably affixed to said container for encasing the outer ends of as said tube and signaling device to seal said container.

which a housing surrounds the exit ends of said tube and signaling device and a cap is amxed to said housing to cover the outer ends of saidtube and signaling device. I V

4. The combination set forth in claim 1, in which said tube extends above the top of said container whereby liquid may rise in said tube stream or by the insertion of a filling nozzle as shown in Fig. 4. In either event the entering stream will only partially fill the pipe lfl'so that the gas that is displaced may have easy escape to the atmosphere.

Naturally therewill be a slight pressure within thetank as the liquid enters; but due to 'the fact that the unobstructed area of fill pipe I0 is very much greater than the area of ports 26 and 30 through whistle 26, the large majority of the gas will pass out through fill pipe Ill .andthe small volume of gas that passes through whistle 26 to the atmosphere will be insuflicient to cause audibility.

As filling continues, the liquid level will ulti-- mately reach the lower end of fill pip Ill; and

obviously when this takes place, gas can no longer escape through the fill pipe, as the lower end will be trapped.

Thereafter all of the gas must escape through whistle 26; and this means that gas flowing at a much higher rate must instantly commenceto pass through whistle 26 following the trapping of 70 the lower end of the fillpipe. The result is that whistling commencesso. that the operator is im- 1 mediately advised that the liquid level has reached the lower end of the fill pipe. The liqj above the top of said container to permit sub stantially complete filling of said container without overflow of said tube.

5. In combination, a container for liquid, a

tube acting as a combined fill pipe and vent projecting downwardly into said container to a posi-.

tion where it may be sealed-by rising liquid, a separate passage through said container having an audible signaling-device in series therewithf the cross-sectional area of said tube being great enough to permit venting of gas therethrough sealed to create adequate pressure in said tank to operate said signaling device, said tube also ex-' tending above the top of said container whereby liquid may rise in said tube above the top of said container to permit substantially complete filling ofsaid container .without overflow of said tube, a housing surrounding the exit ends of said tube and said'signaling device, anda cap aifixed to said housing to cover the outer ends of said tube and said signaling device.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, a 

